EXCLUSIVE: LIVERPOOL Football Club will today pay Rhys Jones the ultimate tribute by playing the murdered youngster’s beloved Everton anthem at Anfield.

The Z-Cars theme tune “Johnny Todd” – which traditionally heralds the Blues’ arrival on to the Goodison Park pitch – will be played prior to You’ll Never Walk Alone before Liverpool’s Champions League match with Toulouse.

Liverpool chiefs made the unprecedented move after being inundated with requests from Reds fans who wanted to mark the 11-year-old’s death and show solidarity with his family.

Chief executive Rick Parry made contact with the Jones family who informed him they would be delighted if the club were to stage such a unique tribute. Rhys’s parents, Stephen and Melanie, will be at Anfield for what is sure to be an emotional occasion and both are expected to wear Everton colours in memory of their son.

Today, Rhys’s uncle, Neil Jones, told the ECHO the couple were overwhelmed by the idea of such a show of solidarity from Everton’s historic rivals.

He said: “When I told them about the proposed tribute at Anfield, Melanie said playing Johnny Todd at Anfield would be a unique event, a complete one-off, just like Rhys, and a fitting tribute to him as it was his favourite tune.

“She's also pretty sure he'll have a little mischievous grin on his face at the thought of being the cause of it.”

After the two songs, there will be a minute’s applause and the Liverpool players will wear black arm bands in memory of Rhys.

The idea for Johnny Todd being played at Anfield came from ECHO feature writer Tony Barrett who put it forward on his blog on the newspaper website the day after Rhys was tragically killed.

The idea was picked up by numerous Liverpool fans who contacted the club to appeal for it to be acted upon.

Chief executive Rick Parry got in touch with the Jones family to discuss the proposal.